FAA warns man who took video of bird strike with iPad

A flock of birds flew into a plane’s engine, a frightening incident with shadows of the 2009 Hudson River landing, but the FAA is more worried about … a guy who didn’t properly stow his electronics for takeoff.

Delta passenger Grant Cardone says he has received a strongly worded letter from the FAA over his video of the bird strike on a New York-Los Angeles flight on April 19. Cardone was filming the plane’s ascent from John F. Kennedy airport when a flock of geese flew into the plane’s engine, causing an emergency landing back at JFK.

We have given consideration to all of the facts. In lieu of legal enforcement action (a civil penalty), we are issuing this letter which will be made a matter of record for a period of two years, after which, the record will be expunged.

Cardone responded, saying “It’s absolutely ridiculous. If there is even a minute chance that an iPad could take a plane down then it is the FAA’s obligation to ban the devices from flights or require the airlines to confiscate them when you check in.”

We probably don’t need that, but let the debate about turning off electronic devices during takeoff begin. Should Cardone have turned off his iPad, or is he a trailblazer against the oppressive tyranny of flight restrictions?